Florida GOP leader calls for stop to fair district proposals

TALLAHASSEE, Florida: Late last month at a Florida GOP conference House Majority Leader Adam Hasner addressed two proposed 2010 ballot measures: Florida Congressional District Boundaries Amendment and Florida Legislative District Boundaries Amendment. Both measures propose amending the current practice of drawing legislative district boundaries in such ways that they establish "fairness," are "as equal in population as feasible" and use "city, county and geographical boundaries." However, in August Hasner said, "It is a stealth agenda funded by the left to do in the courts what they can't do at the ballot box. This is the top priority of Democrats in 2010 and it must be stopped."[1]

In order to place the measure on the ballot supporters must gather 676,811 signatures for each ballot measure. Just last month, state campaign finance reports revealed that Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has contributed a total of $225,000 to Fair Districts Florida, a group advocating for both district proposals.[2]